noun
- A bitter alkaloid found in opium and certain plants of the poppy family, used historically in medicine.
Usage: chemistry; pharmacology; archaic medical use
Examples
- Narcein was isolated from opium in the 19th century.
- The alkaloid narcein has sedative properties similar to other opium derivatives.
- Early pharmacologists studied narcein as a potential pain reliever.
- Narcein is one of several minor alkaloids present in the opium poppy.